On Sunday 3 November, we had our first film-screening: Still Recording as part of Celebrating Syria Festival 2019 at NIAMOS Manchester. The screening highlights the experience of Saeed, who teaches young people the rules of filmmaking amidst reality that is far too harsh to respect any rule.
On Sunday 3 November 2019 we had a mapathon with Maps for Syria at our centre in Longisght Manchester. The event offered participants the opportunity to see the house they left behind in Syria & document their right to it.
On Sunday 3 November 2019 we held a fascinating & highly informative discussion on destruction and reconstruction in the Syrian context at our centre. The event explored the multi-dimensional nature of Syria’s built environment from a community perspective and attempted to re-frame or re-construct the urban sphere as a cultural phenomenon.
On Sunday 3 November 2019, the Centre for International Women Artists (CIWA) hosted the workshop entitled: “In your Own Image: Play with Clay” as part of Celebrating Syria Festival 2019. People were truly entertained as they get their hand dirty and joined experts to make a 3D self-portrait and other sculptures from clay.
A truly unique evening and the perfect opening to our Celebrating Syria Festival 2019 took place at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on Saturday 2 November 2019. Fawaz Baker Ensemble took us to a special place as they performed Arabic, Syriac, Armenian Turkish and Kurdish tunes that have been passed from one generation to the next.
We had the first talk: “Syrian Traditional Music” as part of Celebrating Syria Festival at the Anthony Burgess Foundation on Saturday 2 November 2019. Professor Hassan Abbas, who travelled from Lebanon to the UK to deliver his talk, shed light of the abundance of the intangible cultural heritage displayed through different forms of Syrian traditional music.
On Saturday 2 November 2019 audience had the opportunity to bring their curiosity and playfulness and open their heart to what comes up and accept what is, using Mosaic Boards to facilitate the presence of mind and exploration of the senses. It was a thought-provoking workshop that exemplified the theme of this year’s festival: Mosaic.
The highlight of Celebrating Syria Festival 2019 was Saad Hajo’s special exhibition “ To See or Not to See: That is the Question... Ignorance is Bliss”, which took place at NIAMOS Manchester between 2 and 9 November. The exhibition was a cry against violence, and oppression and against the world’s indifference.
We had an exhibition tour, film screening and panel discussion at the Storey Lancaster on Friday 18 October 2019. The exhibition featured once again the creative artwork of the Syrian’s Artist Amani Al-Ali: “the Green Apple”, and reflected the feelings and experiences of Syrians about their journey and lives after 2011.
On 20 October 2019, A Youth Day was jointly coordinated by Rethink Rebuild Society and the Egyptian Community in the North West.